Applies ToOneDrive for Business 24 OneDrive for Business OneDrive (work or school) OneDrive (work or school) operated by 21Vianet OneDrive for Mac OneDrive for Windows

We're sorry that you're having trouble syncing your OneDrive. To help get you syncing again, follow the steps below to unlink and re-link your computer to OneDrive.

  • No data will be lost by unlinking and re-linking your OneDrive, your local folders are just disconnected from the cloud for a short while. Any changes made while you're unlinked will be synced once re-linking is complete.

  • This article is for users who have a Microsoft 365 work or school account, and refers to the latest version OneDrive for work or school. If you don't sign in with a Microsoft 365 account, read how to Fix OneDrive for Business sync problems. If you're not sure which version of OneDrive for work or school you need, contact your Microsoft 365 Administrator.

Unlinking and re-linking your computer to OneDrive can help solve some sync problems.

Unlink your OneDrive account

  1. Select the OneDrive cloud in your notification area to show the OneDrive pop-up.Blue and white OneDrive icons

  2. Select the OneDrive Help and Settings icon  then select Settings.

  3. Go to the Account tab.A screenshot showing the Account tab in OneDrive settings.

  4. Select Unlink this PC.

Clear sign in credentials

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open a "Run" dialog.

  2. Enter the path %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\settings and select OK.

  3. Delete the PreSignInSettingsConfig.json file.

Sign in again to re-link your account

  1. Press the Windows key and type OneDrive.

  2. Select the OneDrive app and sign in when prompted.

  3. When you sign in, OneDrive will prompt you that a folder already exists: select Use this folder.

    Select Choose new folder if you want to move your OneDrive to a new location.

  4. OneDrive will now sync your files and folders back to your computer. OneDrive won't download all your files, (just their placeholders to save space, learn more), but this will still take some time.

  5. Once your files have re-synced, you can clean up your Computer folder view and choose which folders to sync to your PC.

Unlink your OneDrive account

  1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon up in your Menu bar, click the three dots  to open the menu, and select Preferences.

  2. Go to the Account tab.

  3. Select Unlink this PC.

Clear sign in credentials

  1. Open the Keychain Access app on your Mac. If your keychains aren’t visible, choose Window > Keychain Access.

  2. Select a keychain in the Keychains list.

  3. Choose File > Delete Keychain [OneDrive/Office/MS].

  4. Click Delete References.

Sign in again to re-link your account

  1. Open OneDrive.

  2. When you sign in, OneDrive will prompt you that a folder already exists: select Use this folder.

    Select Choose new folder if you want to move your OneDrive to a new location.

  3. OneDrive will now sync your files and folders back to your computer. OneDrive won't download all your files, (just their placeholders to save space, learn more), but this will still take some time.

  4. Once your files have re-synced, you can clean up your Computer folder view and choose which folders to sync to your PC.

Still having problems?

Use our guided support troubleshooting tool or follow the steps in the sections below.

Start

  1. Sign in to Office 365 with your work or school account.

  2. Now select the blue work or school OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area or menu bar.

    On a pc, you might need to click the Show hidden icons arrow next to the notification area to see the OneDrive icon, or click Press the Windows key and start typing "select which icons" to display the notification area settings option, and then show Microsoft OneDrive. If the icon still doesn't appear in the notification area, OneDrive might not be running. Click  Press the Windows key, type OneDrive in the search box, and then click OneDrive (not "OneDrive for work or school" as that may be an older version) in the search results.

  3. Select View online

If you cannot access your OneDrive for work or school online, contact your Network Administrator.

Your IT admin may restrict what updates you are entitled to receive.

OneDrive and Windows are frequently updated and keeping your PC up to date can help sync problems.

  1. Download the latest Windows updates or check for macOS updates to get the most out of OneDrive. 

  2. Download the latest version of OneDrive and install it.

    If you already have the latest version, the installer setup will end automatically. For more information on the latest version, read the release notes.

  3. Press the Windows key  and type OneDrive 

  4. Open the OneDrive app.

  5. When OneDrive Setup starts, enter your work or school credentials, and then select Sign in to set up your account.

If you see the sync icon stuck for a long period of time, moving some files out of a sync folder can help clear any sync issues.

  1. Open OneDrive settings (select the OneDrive cloud icon in your notification area, and then select the OneDrive Help and Settings icon )

  2. Select Pause syncing.

  3. Choose how long you want to pause OneDrive.

After choosing the time, perform the following:

  1. Select a file from one of your sync folders and move it to a different folder that's not part of OneDrive.

  2. Select OneDrive Help and Settings icon again and select Resume syncing... 

  3. Once sync is complete, move the file back again.

The Support and Recovery Assistant app can help you identify and fix several issues with OneDrive for work or school sync.  Read how to use the Office 365 Support and Recovery Assistant.

If your account or environment is not supported by the Support and Recovery Assistant, try these steps to get sync running on your PC.

Resetting OneDrive can sometimes resolve sync issues. OneDrive will perform a full sync after the reset.

  • Resetting OneDrive disconnects all your existing sync connections (including personal OneDrive and OneDrive for work or school if set up).

  • You won't lose files or data by resetting OneDrive on your computer.

Learn how to Reset OneDrive.

See also

Can't sign in to OneDrive

What do the OneDrive icons mean?

What do the OneDrive error codes mean?

How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive

More fixes for recent OneDrive issues

Fix sync issues with SharePoint Online

Need more help?

Support for the old OneDrive for Business sync app with SharePoint Online has ended. If you see this  OneDrive for business old iconicon in your taskbar, read this article to learn more. 

Contact Support For technical support, please contact your IT admin.

Admins Admins should view Help for OneDrive Admins, the OneDrive Tech Community or contact Microsoft 365 for business support.

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.